JW Filshill, owner of the KeyStore convenience store brand and one of Scotland’s oldest food and drink wholesalers, has appointed Chris Miller to the new position of group commercial director.
Miller, who remains a director of both JW Filshill International Ltd (The Craft Beer Clan of Scotland), the Glasgow-based compoany’s international division and the Clan Brewing Company, its beer distribution and production business, will be responsible for the day-to-day strategic direction of the overall group as well as focusing on new business opportunities.
Filshill, a fifth-generation independent company, is a Sunday Times Top Track 250 company. It launched its international business in 2014 and Clan Brewing Company last year. “The business has gone through considerable transition and growth in a relatively short period of time so we now need to create a stronger and more sustainable management structure to reflect that,” said Simon Hannah, managing director of Filshill.
“Chris has been working with us for over two years now having been brought on board to build our international business which has since expanded its remit to represent Scottish distillers as well as craft brewers in key export markets around the globe. As group commercial director he brings an exceptional breadth of experience as well as synergies that will benefit the wider domestic Filshill business.”
Miller’s new role will see him head up Filshill’s category trading teams as well as assuming responsibility for the strategy and growth of the group’s on-trade operation. “Chris has known our business for 20 years, he understands our culture and our high levels of ambition – he is a perfect fit for this role,” Hannah added.
“Filshill is a forward-thinking company which is diversifying in exciting ways and I’m delighted to be more heavily involved in the wider Filshill business,” said Miller, whose previous roles include chief executive of Harviestoun Brewery in Clackmannanshire. “This a challenging time for us as we strive to build and develop new markets both at home and overseas in collaboration with other partners including Scotland Food & Drink, Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise.”
